Peer Mentorship in Nutrition Education: A Pathway to Leadership Development

Learning Outcome: Upon completion of reviewing the abstract content, attendees will be able to describe how serving as a Course Mentor for an introductory nutrition course fosters one’s leadership development.

Background: Effective leadership is essential in nutrition and dietetics to advance the profession. Leadership skills are developed through smaller, meaningful experiences that build the foundation for broader influence. One such opportunity is serving as a peer mentor, where undergraduate nutrition students support an introductory nutrition course providing supplemental instruction. Course mentors’ responsibilities include creating study materials, hosting office hours, leading study sessions, and answering questions, all of which provide opportunities to hone leadership qualities.

Methods: This qualitative study explored how serving as course mentors shaped students’ leadership development. Six participants who served as course mentors for a nutrition and dietetics program at a midwestern university participated in 30-minute interviews. The interviews were transcribed using Otter.Ai and analyzed thematically using DelveTool to identify key themes related to leadership growth.

Results: Four major themes emerged, highlighting the leadership qualities developed through course mentorship: self-efficacy, adaptability, responsibility, and initiative. Participants described cultivating these qualities through experiences such as managing study sessions, responding to student needs, and adapting to challenges. Participants stated an interest in pursuing future mentoring or leadership roles, crediting their enhanced confidence and leadership skills as motivators.

Conclusion: Providing peer mentorship experiences can prepare students with valuable skills for their future roles within the profession. Serving as a course mentor is a practical way for students to lead and support peers, making it a way for nutrition and dietetics program to foster leadership development.